Valentin Zykov was born on May, 15, 1995 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. A standout in his homeland, Zykov played his major junior hockey for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL.

The Los Angeles Kings selected Zykov in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and he would begin his professional career with the club’s AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, in 2015. Zykov would notch seven goals and add seven assists for the Reign before he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Kris Versteeg on February 28, 2016. Zykov would finish the season with the Charlotte Checkers, the Hurricane’s AHL affiliate.

Zykov would spend the majority of the 2016-17 season with the Checkers. In 66 games he scored 16 times and notched 18 assists. He also appeared in a pair of games at the NHL level, scoring his first career goal.

After just 13 games during the 2018-19 season Zykov was waived by the Hurricanes and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. He would see action in just five games Oilers before being placed on waivers once more. This time he was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

2011-12

Krasnaya Armiya Moscow Jr.

Russia-Jr.

52

5

6

11

105

18

0

2

2

4

2012-13

Baie-Comeau Drakkar

QMJHL

67

40

35

75

60

+29

19

10

9

19

18

2013-14

Baie-Comeau Drakkar

QMJHL

53

23

40

63

70

+32

22

7

15

22

14

2014-15

Baie-Comeau Drakkar

QMJHL

16

6

12

18

22

0

2014-15

Gatineau Olympiques

QMJHL

26

15

13

28

38

+4

11

3

4

7

20

2015-16

Ontario Reign

AHL

43

7

7

14

20

+7

2015-16

Charlotte Checkers

AHL

2

0

0

0

0

-4

2016-17

Carolina Hurricanes

NHL

2

1

0

1

0

+1

2016-17

Charlotte Checkers

AHL

66

16

18

34

57

+6

5

0

2

2

2

2017-18

Carolina Hurricanes

NHL

10

3

4

7

2

+4

NHL Totals

2

1

0

1

0

QMJHL All-Rookie Team (2013) QMJHL Rookie of the Year (2013) Canadian Major Junior Rookie of the Year (2013)

Traded to Carolina by Los Angeles with future considerations (conditions not met) for Kris Versteeg, February 28, 2016.